Alicia Alonso News

The International Festival of Ballet in Havana is being presented by Ballet Nacional de Cuba from Oct. 28 to Nov. 6. 

Former National Ballet of Cuba principal dancer  Aydmara Cabrera has been named the new director of Princeton Ballet School (PBS), the official school of American Repertory Ballet (ARB), effective August 22, 2018.

The Center for Ballet and the Arts at NYU (CBA), the first-ever international institute for scholars and artists of ballet and its related arts and sciences, today announces the launch of its Artistic Partnership Initiative (API). API is a joint initiative between The Center and major professional dance companies around the world to advance the art of choreography. The API Fellowship will give artists selected by the companies the full resources of The Center and NYU for a three to four-week residency to develop new work. Nominees are artists with notable choreographic potential.

It was 40 years ago this week that the Ballet Nacional de Cuba made its historic U.S. debut at the Kennedy Center. There, the remarkable Alicia Alonso was not only artistic director but star performer, who became a ballet force at the American Ballet Theatre and elsewhere despite an eye condition she had since a teenager that caused partial blindness.

Internationally renowned Ballet Nacional de Cuba returns to the Opera House stage showcasing their extraordinary talent in two ballets, May 29-June 3. Artistic Director Alicia Alonso's definitive staging of the romantic classic Giselle anchors the engagement, May 31-June 3, and its acclaimed version of Don Quixote is performed May 29-30. The performances mark the 40th Anniversary of the company's landmark U.S. debut at the Kennedy Center. All performances will be accompanied by the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. 

When esteemed Ballet Nacional de Cuba performs Giselle at The Straz Center for the Performing Arts, it will be a wonderful reunion for Ivonne Lemus, Ballet Mistress for Next Generation Ballet. In her youth in Cuba, Ivonne was selected to train with the acclaimed company founded by legendary prima ballerina Alicia Alonso.

In just two weeks, Capezio Dance Foundation presents: Capezio celebrates 130 years of excellence in a one-night only special Awards and show on Monday, May 14, 2018 at 7:30 pm at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas NV 89106. A glorious production will highlight some of the magical history of Capezio with numerous dance legends and stars of stage and screen saluting this milestone. Savion Glover the Tony Award winner dancer, choreographer and actor joins this special event. The show is produced and directed by Ann Marie DeAngelo. The show benefts The Actors Fund and Future Dance (a program sponsored by Nevada Ballet Theatre).

The Playing For Change Foundation is joining with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO's) International Jazz Day to announce a long-term partnership involving mutually beneficial programs and events. The partnership will debut as part of the seventh annual International Jazz Day on April 30, featuring legendary talent including Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, Branford Marsalis, and more.

Internationally renowned Ballet Nacional de Cuba returns to the Opera House stage showcasing their extraordinary talent in two ballets, May 29-June 3. Artistic Director Alicia Alonso's definitive staging of the romantic classic Giselle anchors the engagement, May 31-June 3, and its acclaimed version of Don Quixote is performed May 29-30. The performances mark the 40th Anniversary of the company's landmark U.S. debut at the Kennedy Center. All performances will be accompanied by the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. 

Ballet Nacional de Cuba returns to Chicago for the first time in 15 years May 18-20 with company director Alicia Alonso's acclaimed version of Don Quixote, accompanied by the Chicago Philharmonic.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces additional programming for Artes de Cuba: From the Island to the World, a two-week festival celebrating the artistic richness that has emerged from this "island archipelago in the sun." Artes de Cuba represents the breadth and vibrancy of Cuba with more than 400 Cuban and Cuban American artists across more than 50 events, May 8 through 20, 2018. A complete calendar of events begins on page three, please see attached for festival brochure. 

John Rowe's photographs provide a preview of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba's performances in the upcoming 'Artes de Cuba Festival' at the Kennedy Center, Washington DC: "Don Quixote" May 29 & 30; "Giselle" May 31-June 3 2018.

The Washington Ballet (TWB) is proud to present Three World Premieres by choreographers Clifton Brown, Gemma Bond and Marcelo Gomes at the Harman Center, March 14-18, 2018. All three choreographers have had formidable dance careers with internationally recognized ballet companies. This triptych of exquisite new works by the emerging choreographers of our time reflects their own history and experiences as dancers. TWB reaffirms its commitment to advancing dance in the 21st century in this program of commissioned works that support both the evolution of ballet and the dancer.

Join Verb Ballets for an exclusive lunch time rehearsal viewing with Cuban dance legend Laura Alonso. The daughter of legendary ballet royalty Alicia Alonso, Laura Alonso is herself an award-winning ballet teacher with a 25-year career performing with Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Observe the artistic process as she sets the ballet Yarini- which has never been seen in America! The ballet highlights passion, power and struggles for freedoms that are the essence of the Cuban spirit. Verb Ballets will travel to Havana, Cuba the next day for nearly three weeks to join ProDanza. Together the two ballet companies will join forces in an international collaboration to form the Cleveland Havana Ballet. Don't miss this exclusive opportunity to see rehearsal before the company leaves for Cuba! 

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas   Capezio Dance Foundation presents: Capezio celebrates 130 years of excellence in a one-night only special Awards and show on Monday, May 14, 2018 at 7:30 pm at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas NV 89106.  A glorious production will highlight some of the magical history of Capezio with numerous dance legends and stars of stage and screen saluting this milestone.  The show is produced and directed by Ann Marie DeAngelo. The show benefts The Actors Fund and Future Dance (a program sponsored by Nevada Ballet Theatre). This is the first time that the Capezio Dance Awards are being presented to receipients of various dance genres.

Verb Ballets of Cleveland, Ohio prepares to travel to Cuba on March 3, 2018 to join forces with ProDanza of Havana in an international collaboration to form the Cleveland Havana Ballet. The Cleveland Havana Ballet will debut in Cuba with a groundbreaking partnership supported through the Cleveland Foundation's Creative Fusion initiative. This significant cultural collaboration will encompass performances in Havana, Cuba by the combined companies in March led by Verb Ballets' Producing Artistic Director, Dr. Margaret Carlson and ProDanza under the direction Laura Alonso.

Capezio celebrates 130 years of excellence with this one-night only special Awards and show on Monday, May 14, 2018 at 7:30 pm at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 361 Symphony Park Avenue, Las Vegas NV 89106.

For two weeks this spring, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will present Artes de Cuba: From the Island to the World, a festival celebrating the artistic richness that has emerged from this island archipelago in the sun. This unprecedented gathering of Cuban and Cuban American artists represents some of the world's greatest from the island and the Diaspora. Curated by the same Kennedy Center team responsible for past international festivals, including the recent IRELAND 100, IBERIAN SUITE, China, ARABESQUE, and maximum INDIA, Artes de Cuba highlights the profound artistic breadth and cultural influence of the island nation.

George Balanchine's famous ballet THEME AND VARIATIONS will be performed at Gran Teatro de La Habana in October.

Trisha Brown Dance Company (TBDC) performs at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in the Ted Shawn Theatre, August 16-20, representing the work of one of the seminal choreographers of the 20th century. Since Brown's passing this past March, witnessing TBDC in an evening-length program is an increasingly rare experience. Echoing Brown's choreographic innovation, timeless aesthetic, and 1960s postmodern approach to dance making, TBDC will perform a version of Opal Loop (1980) prepared especially for Jacob's Pillow, featuring former dancers of the company and an original cast member. Acknowledging Brown's more recent choreography, TBDC will also perform Groove and Countermove (2000) and L'Amour au théâtre (2009). As the company ventures into a new era, viewing Brown's work in a proscenium venue “feel[s] increasingly essential” (The New Yorker).